Overview

The GOAL (Grace Opportunities for Adult Learners) program gives adult learners the opportunity to earn a B.S. in Management or a B.S. in Medical Device Quality Management, while maintaining their family and career responsibilities.

GOAL is specifically designed for adult learners who desire to complete their four-year degree while continuing full-time life responsibilities. With convenient scheduling, current technology and outstanding conventional classroom instruction, Grace offers the faculty, courses, and academic resources to make completing a bachelor’s degree a reality.

Practical learning is key to Grace College's GOAL program. Check out WNDU's coverage of one of our GOAL classes' events.

These bachelor degrees serve those who have interrupted their higher education for work, family, or other commitments. Building upon previous college credits and life-long learning experiences equivalent to about two years of college, the GOAL degree can be completed in 16 months.

*Ivy Tech State College and Ancilla College graduates are elligible to receive a $100 per credit hour scholarship! For more information please click here to contact our GOAL Admissions team.

Strengths:

Convenient schedule with each course meeting one night per week for five weeks or for two day-long Saturday sessions.

Adult assessment replaces traditional examinations.

The final two years of your college program is completed in 16 months.

GOAL is priced substantially below most degree completion programs.

Outstanding and understanding faculty who are geared towards teaching adults.

Courses

Several courses in this major:

GOL3000 Adult Learner & Portfolio Instruction

In this course we will examine adult developmental stages including physical, cognitive, personality, social, and moral development. This course will provide orientation activities for adultlearners to adjust to the college environment, facilities, and technology. We will also learn how to prepare a portfolio of experiential learning.

GOL3100 Business Writing in the New Millennium

Students will build a writing portfolio for diverse audiences and purposes. A writing rubric will ensure strong ideas, logical organization, conversational voice, clear words, smooth sentences, correct copy, and a reader-friendly design. Computer tools will be used to create and enhance written messages that meet the needs of today’s fast-paced business environment.

GOL3200 Expanded Conversation: Public Speaking in the Workplace

In this course, students will learn to analyze, construct, and deliver a variety of presentations required in the modern workplace. Emphasis will be on practicality and individual growth.

GOL3300 Gifts Differing: Diversity and Teamwork in the Workplace

Students will gain experience with and knowledge of concepts related to diversity in the workplace. Special emphasis is placed on understanding personality preferences. Group dynamics such as power, perception, motivation, leadership, and decision-making are analyzed through readings, written assignments, and class discussion.

GOL3400 Principles of Management

This course will survey the role of managers in organization: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. We will explore leadership styles and techniques, preparing students to solve problems and apply effective decision-making processes in their environments.

GOL3500 Business Law

Students study the basic legal principles which control modern business transactions. Additionally, the course deals with such topics as contracts, agencies, employment, negotiable instruments, property, sales, and business relations with government.

GOL3600 The Human Factor

Students will be exposed to major theories of human resource management and contemporary trends in recruiting, training, motivating, and retaining a productive workforce. The legal, psychological, social, and economic issues related to managing people will also be addressed.

GOL4100 Ethical Change Agents (elective)

Students will develop ethical awareness and accountability and consideration of individual contributions to ethics of the working world including small group analysis of selected rules and cases.

GOL4200 Fundamentals of Finance

This course is an introductory survey analyzing the three fundamental forms of financial statements: Balance Sheet, Income Statements, and Cash Flow Statement. Interpretative skill set development will focus on strategic financial planning, assessing risk, and applying effective budgeting controls.

GOL4300 The Dynamic Organization

The study of organizational development explores how companies must adapt to ever-changing internal and external environments in order to thrive in today's economy. Change strategies and intervention processes will be studied so students can apply practical solutions to various organizational challenges in case histories and their own workplaces. Leadership and teamwork will also be explored in the context of organizational development.

GOL4400 Operations Management (elective)

Students will learn how to use mathematics, statistics, and various computer packages to solve common business problems.

GOL4550 Foundations of Business: The Event

Students completing this course will have the opportunity to meet business leaders and gain work experience in the Kosciusko community. Applying knowledge learned from Public Speaking (GOL 3200), Fundamentals of Finance (GOL 4200) & Ethical Change Agents (GOL 4100), this unique experience will take place in an environment where students will excel by developing their skills in marketing, budgeting, planning and entrepreneurship.

GOL4600 Applied Research

This course introduces the student to specific research terminology and research fundamentals such as design, sampling, surveys, experiments, focus groups, and other qualitative and quantitative approaches, culminating in a student research project.

GOL4700 Senior Seminar

This culmination experience will enable students to select individualized activities that demonstrate their practical managerial skills in the workplace.

GOL4800 Spiritual & Leadership Development (elective)

This course focuses upon servant leadership, equipping and empowering others for leadership, and leading as a change agent. Though the leadership principles in this course are based upon Scripture, they are all applicable to a variety of contexts in the workplace.

About

Allyn Decker is the Director of the OrthoWorx Center of Excellence at Grace College and is program director for the Orthopaedic Regulatory and Clinical Affairs graduate program and the program for higher education in Medical Device Quality Management. Allyn is also the moderator for the Kosciusko Leadership Academy. In 1996, as chair of the Grace College Communication Department, Prof. Decker was the recipient of the Alva J. McClain Outstanding Teacher award, which is awarded to one Grace College faculty member each year.

Education History

About

Dr. Jeffrey Gill was the senior pastor of the Delaware, Ohio Grace Brethren Church for 20 years (1982-2002). He started at the church when it was little more than a church plant. It experienced substantial growth over the years and is now well-known in the FGBC as a healthy and influential church body. He assumed the role of Dean of Grace Theological Seminary in July 2002. In 2008, he was named Dean of the School of Ministry Studies, which includes both the Seminary and the undergraduate Biblical Studies Department at Grace. He was the National Moderator of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches in 2002. He and his wife, Kathy, have two grown daughters.

Stephen Grill, B.A., M.A., Ed.D.

Dean, School of Adult and Community Education

Education History

B.A. in Speech Communication, Grace College; M.A. in Communications, Ball State University; Ed.D. in Educational Administration for Higher Education, Ball State University

About

Dr. Grill chaired the Grace College Communications Department for nearly 20 years before being named Dean of Ivy Tech State Community College/Warsaw in 1988. During his 10 years at Ivy Tech, Grill was named both Kosciusko County "Man of the Year" and Winona Lake "Citizen of the Year" for his efforts in bringing higher education to a wider range of citizens in this area. He returned to Grace in 1999 in order to begin a Grace College community education outreach.

Cindy Sisson, B.A., M.A.

Education History

B.A. in Psychology, Grace College; M.A. in Counseling and Personnel, Western Michigan University

About

Cindy Sisson joined Grace in 2002, and is currently the Dean of Enrollment Management. She also teaches in the college's School of Behavioral Science and School of Adult and Community Education. She and her husband have three children and they attend Warsaw Community Church.

Kevin Vanderground, B.S., J.D.

Instructor of Business

Education History

B.S. in Business Administration, Grace College; J.D., Valparaiso University School of Law

About

Professor Kevin Vanderground formerly taught at First Baptist Christian School. He also has had experience as a law clerk and is currently a partner at Bratcher & Vanderground, P.C. Attorneys at Law in Merrillville, IN.

Timothy Ziebarth, B.S., M.A.

Director of Online Education

Education History

B.S. in Business Administration and Psychology, Grace College; M.A. in Adult and Community Education, Ball State University; MBA, Grace College

About

Professor Tim Ziebarth is a 1993 graduate of Grace College, where he majored in business administration and psychology and minored in communications. After graduating from Grace College, he spent a year working in city government as the assistant city planner, then joined the 1st Source Bank headquarter out of South Bend, Indiana. His banking experience includes the role of mortgage loan officer, branch manager, and small business loan officer. He returned to campus in 2002 as the director of alumni services in the Grace Alumni Office. In May 2009, he was named the Director of the William P. Gordon Institute for Enterprise Development. He has taught in undergraduate students in Grace's School of Business and currently teaches for the School of Adult and Community Education.

Careers

Some of the positions you can obtain:

Administrative Executive

Using exceptional organizational and multi-tasking skills, Administrative Executives generally provide full support for leaders or sales members within an organization. Such duties typically include: calendar management, expenses and travel arrangement, presentations, organizing team meetings, monitoring timesheets, ordering supplies, and processing HR requests.

Computer Graphics Specialist

These specialists apply their talents to three-dimensional cartoons, video games, television, and film. They use CAD (computer-aided design) systems to design models of building, cars, or entire environments. CAD systems can also be used when designing models for physicians, surgeons, and scientists. Computer graphics specialists also create geographical, topographical, meteorological, and environmental impact maps; charts; tables; and graphs to organize information for businesses and organizations.

General Manager

A general manager directs and coordinates the operations of a small business or a department in a company. Medium-sized and large companies are divided into production, sales, promotion, purchasing, and other departments, and a general manager is typically in charge of each of these divisions. In a small company the general manager may be responsible for all operations. General managers usually report to the chief operating officer or to a vice president. They may report to the chief executive officer.

Graphic Designer

By combining text (typography) and graphic images, a Graphic Designer is a professional artist that designs, develops, and produces materials for visual communication. From routine production work to industry-wide graphics management, Graphic Designers with strong art, design, and technical skills have unique job opportunities in the vast graphic arts field. Types of industry products include materials for print and electronic publication, such as books, magazines, product brochures, way finding banners, advertising, and package design, Web sites, and training resources. The variety of organizations creating graphic materials is unlimited.

Management Trainee

The Business Administration degree at Grace College provides a strong background in management thought, accounting, economics, marketing, and finance helping graduates who pursue management positions understand the big-picture of business. Group work during business courses aids students in developing relational skills. Recent graduates report they were well prepared for Management training programs.

Human Resource Professional

Human Resource professionals provide crucial services to all types of businesses by helping to recruit,hire, train, and evaluate the company's employees. Human Resource professionals often help select and manage benefit plans for the company. This vital service not only benefits for-profit entities but also not-for-profit entities. The business curriculum gives graduates a strong foundation to use when seeking such a career.

Testimonials

What others are saying:

When I started GOAL, I was doing it alone. When I finished GOAL, I realized I was not alone. I had the support not only of twenty other students in my cohort, but also of Grace’s staff, administration, and professors. They prayed for us and lifted us up. I learned about management, but more importantly I learned the incredible value of a team. Harnessing each of our strengths created a cohesive unit that worked together toward our ultimate goal: completion of GOAL.

I have attended college and college-level training since 1981, but I have never focused that training into degree completion. The Grace College GOAL Program allowed me to complete bachelor’s in management degree in 16 months. The straight forward style of classroom instruction provided by the Grace professors was complemented by interaction with local business professionals. This combination provided me with a truly practical learning experience and relevant knowledge that I apply daily in my manager position at Zimmer.”

—Jeff Smalls, Zimmer, Inc., Warsaw, Indiana; GOAL graduate, 2010

I found the Grace GOAL Program to be well-designed for adult learners. The entire adult learning process had been studied and carefully considered during the creation of the GOAL Program. The curriculum was chosen to be immediately applicable to the workplace, and the professors are very skilled in their area of teaching. Another critical design of the program is that the course hours allow students to qualify for financial aid. Not every degree completion program qualifies for financial aid, and this was an important aspect of the program for me. I am so thankful for the Grace GOAL Program that afforded me the opportunity to receive a quality and well-rounded education. I encourage you to investigate the possibility of completing your dream of obtaining a bachelor’s degree. It is doable thanks to the Grace GOAL Program.